Late Five-Goal Run Gets Wildcats Past Boxers

McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Pacific saw a four-goal lead evaporate and watched as Linfield scored five unanswered goals in the final seven minutes as the Wildcats handed the Boxers a 21-17 defeat in women's lacrosse action Thursday at the Linfield Lacrosse Field.

The Boxers (6-6) led by four goals early in the second half before a run of five unanswered goals by Linfield (4-7) gave the Wildcats the 16-15 lead. After an Erin Bayne (Sr., Everett, Wash.) goal with 8:52 remaining, Linfield went on to another five-goal run to sew up the victory.

Sammy Smith led Linfield with seven goals. Anna Gorciak and Matha Inouye each added four strikes as both teams put up 42 shots. Linfield held a 32-27 advantage in ground balls.

Lilia Lee (Jr., Waimanalo, Hawaii) paced Pacific with five goals, while Monica Smith (Fr., Wilsonville, Ore.) and Bayne each had four. Savannah McClendon (Fr., Roseburg, Ore.) and Natalie Getchell (So., Beaverton, Ore.) scored two goals apiece. Pacific held a 25-13 advantage in ground balls and made just 3 of 11 free position shots.

The opening 10 minutes saw a flurry of action as eight goals were scored while the Boxers jumped in front, 5-2. Sammy Smith and Inouye scored for Linfield while Lee scored twice and Boxers teammates Bayne and Getchell also tallied.

The Boxers extended their lead to four in the 13th minute. A swift run by McClendon was followed by a strong shot to the left side of the net, beating Wildcats starting goalie Becca Levy.

Monica Smith put the Boxers in front 7-2 midway through the first half after receiving a pass from Lee and flinging a shot to the upper-left corner. Taylor Fisher pulled Linfield back less than a minute later with a laser shot to the upper-left corner.

Smith grabbed her second goal with a one-timer off a pass from Tarie Caouette in the 18th minute. Sammy Smith then set up Gorciak and Caouette later scored drawing the Wildcats to within one, 8-7.

Pacific answered again with Monica Smith completing a hat trick. Sammy Smith followed suit with seven minutes left off a pass from Michelle Dorris.

Gorciak tied the match at nine, scoring unassisted with 7:27 left in the half. The teams went on to exchange goals in the final four and a half minutes and went to intermission with the contest knotted at 10.

After Caouette gave Linfield the lead 20 seconds into the second half, Pacific went on a 5-0 that included two goals by Bayne. Led by Inouye's two goals in the span of seven minutes, the Wildcats wouldn't wilt, scoring five goals in order to snatch a one-goal advantage with 16:11 to play.

Bayne scored a game-tying goal at the 8:52 mark before the Wildcats erupted for five consecutive goals to seize command. Linfield took the lead for good after Monique Schreiber passed to an open Ashley Johnson, who bounced a shot off the goalie and into the net. Stephanie Manning (So., Hillsboro, Ore.) received her second yellow card of the game in the 49th minute, leaving the Boxers to play with one less player for the rest of the way.

A great passing combination gave Linfield three goals in the final six minutes as Smith, Johnson and Dorris all found the back of the Pacific net. Smith iced the game with her seventh goal with 1:39 remaining. Gorciak added one more for good measure with 18 seconds left off a free-position shot. The Boxers grabbed a consolation goal with two seconds left on the clock.

Pacific will finish the 2009 season with a match at Puget Sound on Saturday.